The incident gained attention amid rumours about Mammootty's health, with unverified reports suggesting he was receiving treatment. However, his PR team dismissed these claims as baseless and unfounded
Published Mar 25, 2025 | 3:37 PM ⚊ Updated Mar 25, 2025 | 3:37 PM
Mohanlal’s Sabarimala offering for Mammootty sparks controversy; Devaswom board responds
Synopsis: Actor Mohanlal’s prayer offering for Mammootty at Sabarimala on 18 March sparked controversy, especially amid health rumours about Mammootty. Mohanlal performed an ‘Usha Pooja’ in Mammootty’s birth name. In response, Mohanlal emphasised that prayer is personal and should not be sensationalised. The Travancore Devaswom Board clarified that no confidentiality breach occurred, and the details were likely leaked by other means.
A recent prayer offering made by actor Mohanlal at the Sabarimala temple for his colleague Mammootty has sparked controversy, prompting a clarification from the Travancore Devaswom Board.
On 18 March, Mohanlal performed an ‘Usha Pooja’ at the Sabarimala temple in the name of Mammootty. The offering was reportedly made under Mammootty’s birth name, ‘Muhammad Kutty, Vishakham,’ referencing his astrological star sign.
The incident gained attention following rumours about Mammootty’s health. Unverified reports had suggested the veteran actor was undergoing treatment, but his PR team dismissed the claims as unfounded.
In a press interaction during the promotion of his upcoming film Empuraan in Chennai, Mohanlal was asked about his Sabarimala visit and the prayer offering.
He responded by emphasising that prayer is a personal matter and should not be turned into a spectacle.
“It’s not something that needs to be announced publicly or made into a big issue. People pray for others all the time, and it is a good thing,” Mohanlal stated.
He also alleged that the details of his offering were leaked to the media by a staff member of the Travancore Devaswom Board.
In response, the Travancore Devaswom Board issued a statement clarifying the situation. They denied any breach of confidentiality by their officials.
“Mohanlal’s statement appears to be based on a misunderstanding. The Devaswom Board did not make any details public. When an offering is made, the board retains only the counterfoil of the receipt, while the main receipt is handed over to the devotee,” the statement explained.
The Board further clarified that the details circulated in the media likely came from the receipt given to Mohanlal or the person assigned by him, not from any Devaswom officials.
“The media accessed the portion of the receipt given to the devotee, which in this case was Mohanlal. There was no lapse on our part. We hope that Mohanlal will reconsider his statement after understanding these facts,” the Board added.
(Edited by Ananya Rao with inputs from Dileep V Kumar)
